"Ait Ben Haddou" Ait Ben Haddou by Kaspian

Travel Dates: May 26 2009.

When I first saw photographs of Ait ben Haddou on sachara's page, I have to admit that my jaw dropped open in astonishment. To think that in this day and age there would be a place that still looked like this and so well preserved--no hydro wires, no satellite dishes, no gaudy commercial signs. I instantly made it a must-see on my upcoming trip to Morocco.

Ait Ben Haddou (2009)

Walking through the semi-abandoned city of Ait ben Haddou is like being in a dream state. I find myself questioning the year, the country, my consciousness, my eyes, my sanity. Is this real?! ...Because it certainly looks and feels imagined.

In some places the walls are crumbling, in others you'll find a small open doorway hiding away a tiny jewelry shop. The mazelike narrow pathways can lead to turrets, to rooftops, to the mountain above, or even into someone's home. Luckily the only navigational a person really needs is to decide whether you are ascending to descending; because all paths in those directions will eventually lead to the same spots.